Drama Translation: the problems and Solutions

Abstract

Translating drama falls into the field of Literary Translation and it is considered quite complex as this deals with an audience of different types. At the same time a drama is to be enjoyed, understood and felt by the audience in the very place where it is staged. It is evident that educated people tend to read scripts of dramas, but the focus of this study is to find the difficulties in translating a drama not for the readers but for a live audience. The fact that an audience is not of equal understanding is the most felt difficulty. Translating taboos and slang, similes and metaphors, using language according to the context and characters, understanding the background of the original story and its setting and translating feelings can be cited as the other difficulties. The study was carried out using qualitative analysis with comparative methodology. However, a drama translator could overcome them by using matching similes, metaphors to the target audience. Moreover, slang and taboos can be used when necessary while not causing undue distress to the target audience. He should be familiar with both Source and Target Languages and their cultures.